Matthew 2:18 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁸ [Jer. 31:15], “A voice was heard in [the town of] Ramah [Note: This was a village near Jerusalem, where Rachel was buried], with crying and deep mourning. It was Rachel crying for her children [Note: Initially this was a reference to the Israelites who were taken to Babylonian captivity. See Jer. 29-31]. She refused to be comforted because they were dead.”

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁸ In Rama was there a voice heard, Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, And would not be comforted, because they are not.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they were no more. [Jer. 31:15.]

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.

Common English Bible

¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁸ "A voice has been heard in Ramah, great weeping and wailing: Rachel crying for her sons. And she was not willing to be consoled, because they were no more."

Matthew 2:18 Cross References

Revelation 8:13

And as I looked, I heard an eagle flying in midair, saying in a loud voice, “It is bad, very bad, awful bad for those people who live on earth, because of the sound of the trumpets of the remaining three angels!” [i.e., due to the messages they deliver].

Matthew 2:17

This fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

Luke 8:52

And all the people [in the house] were crying and beating their chests in mourning, so Jesus said [to them], “Do not cry, for the girl is not [really] dead but [only] sleeping.”